When the pot is actually the kettle
Tuesday, Oct 20, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Rep. Jack Franks on Comptroller Leslie Munger’s decision not to make November’s state pension payment…
“It’s illegal,” said state Rep. Jack Franks, a Democrat from Marengo. “I helped draft the law. We have to pay this — there’s no discretion. So for her to knowingly not pay this, she’s violating the law.”
But as long as all the payments are made by the end of the fiscal year, delaying a payment is not illegal…
The comptroller’s office argued it wasn’t at odds with the law because the office wasn’t skipping payments all together — a past practice that largely contributed to the more than $100 billion in unfunded pension liability facing the state.
“Really the monthly payment is more of an internal matter. We’re not skipping payments, we’re merely delaying them,” said Munger spokesman Rich Carter.
* This suggestion by Rep. Franks, however, would be illegal…
“She ought to consider not paying any of the state workers, including the General Assembly.”
State workers are being paid because of a judicial order. And Franks and other legislators are being paid because of a continuing appropriation.
Man, what a pointless story that was.
- Frenchie Mendoza - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 9:17 am:
Hey Franks, listen up: State workers didn’t cause the problems.
You did.
- Honeybear - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 9:18 am:
Earnest Question. Why does Franks always seem angry? The guy seems like a real putz. What’s his deal? I’d like to learn about the guy.
- Robert the Bruce - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 9:19 am:
Strange time to go after the Comptroller, the day after she stepped out of the Rauner tent a bit. Rep. Franks, you aren’t helping…
- Roamin' Numeral - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 9:19 am:
Not helpful to the discourse. Amateur hour all around.
- Wow - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 9:19 am:
Franks would cut down the tallest tree in Illinois to stand on the tree’s stump to tell us what a great conservationist he is.. What a waste of time reading that blurb
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 9:22 am:
If Rep. Franks wants to be the counter-weight to actual governing moves done by Gov. Rauner or Comptroller Munger, at least make an attempt to be honest in you counter-balance.
Otherwise, Rep. Franks, when you do show your “Maverick” ways, what are you saying to your own interpretation to governance?
Right now, it’s not your opinion that’s being sought, it’s your hyperbole that’s being peddled, by you.
- John Parnell - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 9:23 am:
“I helped draft the law”. Next time read the bill before you post, Jack.
- truthteller - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 9:28 am:
Rich, Does “pointless” refer to the remarks or the person making them?
Franks got attention which is what he is after
- A Jack - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 9:29 am:
Maybe she shouldn’t pay the judges, then they will quit ordering her to pay everyone else.
But seriously, I am waiting to see what will happen when she can’t make the bond interest payment.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 9:31 am:
===Does “pointless” refer to the remarks or the person making them?===
It refers to the story itself.
- Bluegrass Boy - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 9:36 am:
I generally appreciate Jack Frank’s independence and willingness to be a gadfly. But he needs to realize that when he steps out and makes factually incorrect statements like this he loses credibility that he needs to be banking for actual meaningful fights.
- Lincoln Lad - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 9:37 am:
This is Franks trying to get noticed. He’s still trying to figure out why his multi-billion dollar loophole proposal fell on deaf ears. Your ‘present’ vote put you in the doghouse Jack. Dunkin may carry the public wrath, but you weren’t on the team either.
- LizPhairTax - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 9:52 am:
Franks hasn’t liked Munger since she ran against Sente.
- @MisterJayEm - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 9:56 am:
“Why does Franks always seem angry? The guy seems like a real putz.”
Asked and answered.
– MrJM
- VanillaMan - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 10:03 am:
Just because he was elected many times, doesn’t make him a fount of wisdom or an expert in all things.
He’s human. He’s emotional. Right now, he’s very emotional. It is OK for him to do a giant belly flop. Just turn away and don’t listen to him.
- Wordslinger - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 10:05 am:
Sorry, Politico. We already have the Tribbie edit board. We’re full up on shallow and willful ignorance.
- Anonin' - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 10:10 am:
Hey Jack, who is the ultimate PR w* got some attention…always his only goal…Wingman probably had 8 hours of meetin’s to understand why she could not do what Jack wanted.
So on we know young state workers more important that old state workers
- Norseman - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 10:16 am:
I lost any respect for Franks when he railed against a state agency for opposing a piece of legislation on fiscal grounds. How dare the agency tell the legislators that they shouldn’t pass something that costs money.
- Agricola - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 10:17 am:
Rep. Jack Franks on [insert anything here]: “Notice me!!!!!”
- Just Me - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 10:50 am:
I love when a Member says they drafted/wrote/authored a law. When is the last time you saw a Member sit down at a computer and type out a bill? And most of the time whenever they make that claim (like Franks is now) they forget or are ignorant of an important details (like Franks is now as well).
- Denny Crain, Attorney, Boston Mass - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 12:07 pm:
I just like the sound of it, “Jack Franks”.
- Hit or Miss - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 1:30 pm:
===We’re not skipping payments, we’re merely delaying them===
While it may or may not be legal it will defiantly increase the unfunded pension liability. Even when the delayed payment is finally made there will have been interest lost by the pension system. This lost interest will need to be made up by the taxpayers at some future date. Making the pension payment on time saves taxpayer money in the long run.
- Arthur Andersen - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 8:37 pm:
Sorry, guys. Franks is right and Munger is wrong. I helped write that law as well. Monthly installments are specifically mandated. Although payments have previously been missed and caught up by year’s end, it was wrong then and it’s wrong now.
- ouch - Tuesday, Oct 20, 15 @ 9:01 pm:
Always easy for a millionaire legislator to say stop paying state employees. Jack, not all of us have rich daddies.